Montgomery official wants state to halve ICC tolls

A Montgomery County official has asked the Maryland Transportation Authority to halve the "outrageous" tolls on the Intercounty Connector to boost traffic on what he calls an "underused" highway.

County Councilmember Phil Andrews, a long-time ICC opponent, said in a letter Monday to the MdTA that the 18-mile, all-electronic toll road between Gaithersburg and Interstate 95 has had little effect on relieving congestion on other roads since opening one year ago. An end-to-end ride during rush hour costs $4 for a car.

"MdTA foolishly assumed 'price was no object' for the general public when it set its toll rates for the ICC," Andrews wrote. "Many people, whose tax dollars helped [pay] for this road, are unable to afford the tolls or are deterred by the high tolls."

MdTA spokeswoman Kelly Melhem said the ICC is meeting both traffic and revenue projections and noted that the highway was designed for anticipated traffic volumes in 2030.